CHANCELLOR Gordon Brown's allocation of &#xA3;3bn for the Ministry of Defence was boosted by an additional &#xA3;330m in yesterday's Budget to protect Britain against the threat of terrorism.

But community safety part-nerships will be concerned that the Budget speech made no mention of new spending on community policing and crime prevention strategies.

The Chancellor's failure to detail any funding to tackle existing problems, such as drug misuse and domestic violence, came as no comfort to community safety partnerships struggling for funding.

Susan Cousins, executive director of the award-winning Safer Merthyr Tydfil project, was not surprised by Mr Brown's emphasis on "do-mestic security" and the terrorism threat. But this wasn't the type of security she had been waiting to hear about.

Safer Merthyr was among the first schemes in Wales to set up a free home security service for the elderly and vulnerable, slashing burglary rates, and its community warden scheme inspired by the Dutch Civic Guards became a model for the UK.

"This Budget is going to be bad news for us," she said, expressing dismay at the lack of reference to tackling the causes of crime.

"It is disappointing that there doesn't look to be anything coming directly to community safety."

Ms Cousins welcomed the Chancellor's confirmation that a consultation document on domestic violence would be issued shortly by Home Secretary David Blunkett.

But she noted once again the lack of any reference to further funding.

Any effect on preventing domestic crime and enhancing community safety may not be felt for months.

Police and drug support groups across the South Wales Valleys received additional funding last year to tackle the rise of heroin and crack abuse. But national defence issues appear to have put the lid on further funding.

The Police Federation of England and Wales would not speculate on the impact of the Chancellor's spending pledges.

Federation spokeswoman Julie Ballard said, "It has not been our policy to comment on the Budget immediately."